Mature size & growth rate

How big does DeVoss Codonanthe (Codonanthe devosiana) get?

Also called DeVoss Codonanthe, DeVos Codonanthe.

More about devoss codonanthe

About DeVoss Codonanthe

Codonanthe devosiana · also called DeVoss Codonanthe, DeVos Codonanthe · houseplant

Codonanthe devosiana is a delicate trailing gesneriad from Brazil, producing small, glossy leaves and charming white tubular flowers with a yellow throat, followed by bright orange-red berries. It grows epiphytically in nature and adapts well to hanging baskets indoors, thriving in bright indirect light with consistently high humidity.

Mature size: Stems trail 20–40 cm; plant spreads 15–30 cm

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

DeVoss Codonanthe is a garden shrub whose final size is set more by your secateurs than by the plant — pruning, not luck, decides how big it gets. Indoors and in a pot, expect stems trail 20–40 cm. In the ground with no restriction it is a completely different plant — plant spreads 15–30 cm — which is why the pot, the light and the pruning matter so much for the size you actually end up with.

Left unpruned it builds a woody framework that gets taller and wider every year; with annual pruning you hold it at whatever size suits the space.

Growth rate and years to mature

DeVoss Codonanthe is a moderate grower. Realistically, expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Its feeding profile backs this up: apply a quarter-strength balanced liquid fertiliser every two weeks during active growth (spring to early autumn). the fine roots are sensitive to excess salts, so flush the medium with plain water periodically.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the devoss codonanthe repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast devoss codonanthe grows.

How to keep devoss codonanthe smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For devoss codonanthe specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

Prune devoss codonanthe annually at the right time for its type — this is the primary, expected way to control its size.
Remove the oldest, thickest stems at the base each year to keep it open and within bounds.
Growing it in a large container rather than open ground naturally restricts the ultimate size.
Avoid heavy feeding if you want to limit growth — rich soil and lots of nitrogen drive bigger, faster shrubs.

The keep-it-smaller method, step by step

Prune at the right time. Time the cut to devoss codonanthe's type (after flowering for many spring shrubs, late winter for summer-flowering ones) so you do not lose the next display.
Take out the oldest stems. Remove up to a third of the oldest, thickest stems at the base to renew the shrub and contain it.
Shorten the rest. Cut the remaining stems back to an outward-facing bud at the height and width you want.
Restrict the roots. For a permanent size cap, grow it in a large container rather than open ground.

How to grow devoss codonanthe bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for devoss codonanthe the accelerators are:

Plant it in open ground in good soil — far more vigorous than a container-restricted plant.
Full sun (which it wants) plus an annual mulch and feed gives the strongest growth.
Water well through the first establishment years; a settled root system drives the fastest size gain.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The devoss codonanthe light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When devoss codonanthe outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for devoss codonanthe:

It shades or crowds neighbouring plants, or blocks a path it used to clear.
Bare, woody, unproductive centres with growth only on the outside — a sign it needs renovation pruning.
It has clearly exceeded the space you allotted and an annual trim no longer holds it.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the devoss codonanthe repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the devoss codonanthe propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

DeVoss Codonanthe size — frequently asked questions

How big does devoss codonanthe get?

DeVoss Codonanthe reaches stems trail 20–40 cm when grown indoors, and far larger where it grows unrestricted (plant spreads 15–30 cm). Left unpruned it builds a woody framework that gets taller and wider every year; with annual pruning you hold it at whatever size suits the space.

Is devoss codonanthe slow or fast growing?

DeVoss Codonanthe is a moderate grower. Expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. DeVoss Codonanthe is a garden shrub whose final size is set more by your secateurs than by the plant — pruning, not luck, decides how big it gets.

How long does devoss codonanthe take to reach full size?

Roughly three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep devoss codonanthe smaller?

Prune devoss codonanthe annually at the right time for its type — this is the primary, expected way to control its size. Remove the oldest, thickest stems at the base each year to keep it open and within bounds. Growing it in a large container rather than open ground naturally restricts the ultimate size. Avoid heavy feeding if you want to limit growth — rich soil and lots of nitrogen drive bigger, faster shrubs.

How can I make devoss codonanthe grow bigger or faster?

Plant it in open ground in good soil — far more vigorous than a container-restricted plant. Full sun (which it wants) plus an annual mulch and feed gives the strongest growth. Water well through the first establishment years; a settled root system drives the fastest size gain.